In everyday life, (mobile) media play an increasingly important role. Many people are online almost all the time: They use social media, listen to podcasts, participate in video conferences, or use voice-based agents like Alexa. The Everyday Media Lab investigates how digital media influence knowledge processes in everyday private and professional life.
For example, the lab examines how YouTube videos or podcasts are used to find answers for knowledge questions and for knowledge acquisition more generally. In particular, the research group is interested in the extent to which parasocial relationships with media persons (i.e., asymmetric relationships) influence these processes. Another research focus is the interaction with voice-based agents such as chatbots.
As algorithms become increasingly significant in everyday media by, for instance, influencing what news are displayed in newsfeeds on social media, the lab also investigates under which conditions people accept algorithmic decisions.
Especially since the Corona pandemic, mobile and hybrid forms of work have become part of everyday (professional) life for many people. The lab investigates, for example, under which circumstances videoconferencing has positive effects for the individual user and the group. In addition, it focuses on the effects of work-related social media use. To do so, it combines experiments and longitudinal survey studies. These research results are relevant for the application field knowledge work with digital media.